PERISTERA CHALCOPTERA, Swains. 
Bronze-winged Pigeon. 
Columba chalcoptera, Lath. Ind, Orn., vol. ii. p. 604.— Wael. Syst. Av, Columba, sp. 
Columbe lumachelle, Temm. Pig., fol, 2nde fam. pl. 8 
5 . 
. p.17.—Ib, Pig. et Gall., tom. i pp. 103 and 448. 
La Tourterelle aux ailes dorées, Sonn, edit. de Buff., tom, vit. p. 309. 
Bronze-winged Pigeon, Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp., vol. ii. p. 266.—Phill. Bot. Bay, pl. in p, 162.—White’s Journ., 
pl. in p. 146.—Shaw, Lev. Mus., p, 227. pl. 55.—Lath. Gen. Llist., vol. viii. p. 31.—Steph. Cont. of 
Shaw's Gen. Zool., vol. xi. p. 17, aud vol. xiy. p. 280. 
Peristera chalcoptera, Swains. Class. of Birds, vol. ii, p. 349. 
Phaps chalcoptera, Selby, Nat. Lib. Orn., vol. v. Pigeons, p. 195, pl. 21.—G. R. Gray, List. of Gen, of Birds, 2nd 
edit. p. 75. 
Oo-da, Aborigines of Western Australia. 
Ar-a-war-ra-wa, Aboriyines of Port Essington. 
Bronze Pigeon, Colonists of Swan River, 
Tue Bronze-winged Pigeon is so generally distributed over all parts of Australia, that, without a single 
exception, the colonists of every settlement have found the surrounding country inhabited by this fine bird, 
Specimens from Port Essington, Swan River, Van Diemen’s Land, and New South Wales differ so little from 
each other, either in their size or markings, that they must all be regarded as one and the same species, the 
slight differences that do occur being too trivial to be considered as other than mere local yariations. 
It is a plump, heavy bird, weighing when in good condition fully a pound ; and its pectoral muscles being 
deep and fleshy, it constitutes a most excellent yiand and is constantly eaten by every class of persons, being 
equally acceptable at the table of the Governor and at that of the inmate of a log-hut in the interior of the 
country, [ts amazing powers of flight enable it to pass in an incredibly short space of time over a great 
expanse of country, and just before sunset it may be observed swiftly winging its way over the plains or down 
the gullies to its drinking-place. During the long drought of 1839-40, when L was encamped at the northern 
extremity of the Brezi range, I had daily opportunities of observing the arrival of this bird to drink; the 
only water for miles, as I was assured by the natives, being that in the immediate vicinity of my tent, and 
that was merely the scanty supply left in a few small nataral basms m the rocks, which had been filled by 
the rains of many months before. This peculiar situation afforded me an excellent opportunity for 
observing not only the Bronze-wing, but every other bird inhabiting the neighbourhood: few if any of the 
true insectivorous or fissirostral birds came to the water-boles; but, on the other hand, those species that 
live upon grain and seeds, particularly the Parrots and Honey-eaters (7richoglossi and Meliphagi), were 
continually rushing down to the edges of the pools, utterly regardless of my presence, their thirst for 
water quite overcoming their sense of danger; seldom, if ever, however, did the Bronze-wing make 
its appearance during the heat of the day, but at sundown, on the contrary, it arrived with arrow-like 
swiftness, ¢ither singly or in pairs. It did not descend at once to the edge of the pool, but dashed 
down to the ground at about ten yards’ distance, remained quiet for a short time, then walked leisurely 
to the water, and after taking libations deep and frequent, winged its way to its roosting-place for the 
night: with a knowledge, therefore, of the habits of this bird, the weary traveller may always perceive 
when he is in the vicinity of water; and however arid the appearance of the country may be, if he 
observes the Bronze-wing wending its way from all quarters to a given point, he may be certain to 
procure a supply of food and water. When rain has fallen in abundance, and the rivers and lagoons are 
filled not only to the brim, but the water has spread over the surface of the surrounding country, the 
ease is materially altered ; then the Bronze-wing and many other birds are not so easily procured, the 
abundant supply of the element so requisite to their existence rendering it no longer necessary that they 
should brave every danger in procuring it. 
It has been supposed that a partial migration of this species takes place from time to time, a circumstance 
which I think is very probable, as its numbers are sometimes suddenly increased. After the breeding- 
season is over, both the adults and young resort to the stubble fields of the settlers in such abundance, that 
although more than one can rarely be procured at a shot, from twenty to thirty brace may be killed in a 
day; and at this season it is in better condition than at any other. Although, as I have before stated, the 
Bronze-wing is an excellent article of food, it must yield the palm in this respect to the Wonga-wonga Pigeon 
(Leucosarcia picata) ind the Partridge Browze-wing (Geophaps seripta), whose flesh is white and more delicate 
in flavour, while the internal pectoral muscle only of the present bird is of that colour. 
The Bronze-wing feeds entirely upon the ground, where it finds the various kinds of leguminous seeds that 
